The New York Rangers will be hoping to ride the momentum
from their surprising 4-0
win over the Vancouver Canucks when they visit the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank
Saddledome on Thursday night.

Despite another parade to the penalty box and a meager total
of just nine shots on goal through two periods, the Blueshirts managed to pick
up their first win of the season thanks mostly to superstar goalie Henrik
Lundqvist.

Calgary is nowhere near the caliber opponent of Vancouver,
but if New York delivers the same type of effort it did on Tuesday then it
likely won’t receive the same result.

The Rangers cannot rely on Lundqvist to carry them –it’s
possible that Martin Biron could make his first start of the season against
Calgary – and they cannot afford the same poor offensive performance and undisciplined
play that has plagued them throughout the season.

Calgary is a team on the decline, but the Flames still boast
a solid blueline, a strong goalie in Miikka Kiprusoff and one of the NHL’s best
players in 34-year-old Jarome Iginla.

After dropping their first two games, Calgary has won two
out of its last three and has given up just four goals in its last three games.The Flames are also 16 for their last 17 on
the penalty kill, bad news for the Blueshirts who have still yet to pick up a
power play goal this season.

Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh and company must corral Iginla,
but this could be one of the easier matchups they’ve faced this season.After facing Anze Kopitar, Anaheim’s line of
Bobby Ryan, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, and the Sedin twins, Calgary’s
offense - with top-line center Olli Jokinen - could represent a nice little
break for the Rangers.

While New York may not need to score five goals to beat the
Flames, the team desperately needs to get going offensively and is in dire need
of a strong start.The top duo of Brad
Richards and Marian Gaborik has produced in every game this season, but until
the third period on Tuesday night New York hadn’t gotten nearly enough
secondary scoring.

If the Blueshirts continue to play solid defense and receive
superior goaltending they could put their season-opening three game losing
streak behind them and head to Edmonton for Saturday’s visit to Tom Renney with
a fresh two-game winning streak.

- It’s unlikely that Wojtek Wolski or Mike Sauer will return
to the lineup.

- Former Rangers’ prospect Roman Horak, traded for Tim Erixon
in June, should be in the lineup for Calgary.